Edmonton... The Alberta government has accepted the recommendations of a commission appointed to look at compensation rates for justices of the peace.

The report of the 2006 Justice of the Peace Compensation Commission recommended that full-time justices of the peace be paid a rate of $100,000 for 2003-04, $105,000 for 2004-05 and $110,000 for the years 2005 to 2008.

The report recommended part-time justices of the peace continue to be paid a daily rate. The recommended rates were $595 for 2003-04, $620 for 2004-05 and $645 for the years 2005 to 2008.

Commissioner David G. Tettensor, QC, made the recommendations after reviewing the submission from the government and the joint submission made by the Alberta Association of Presiding Justices of the Peace and the Alberta Association of Sitting Justices of the Peace. Both submissions suggested the recommended compensation rates.

The new compensation arrangement will also establish long-term disability benefits for full-time justices of the peace. In lieu of pension, they will continue to receive 10 per cent of their salary. Part-time justices of the peace working evening or night shifts will be paid a shift differential of $2.50 per hour retroactive to April 1, 2006.

All 50 justices of the peace, including three full-time and 47 part-time appointments, are covered by the new compensation arrangement. The current full-time justice of the peace salary level is $85,000 annually. The current daily rate for part-time sitting and presiding justices of the peace is $515.

Sitting justices of the peace hear provincial statute matter such as traffic and bylaw offences. Presiding justices of the peace hear matters such as bail hearings, emergency protection order applications, and search warrant applications.

The new compensation arrangement will make Alberta justices of the peace the highest paid in Canada. Alberta's compensation process for justices of the peace is governed by Alberta's Judicature Act. The process was created to ensure both fairness and judicial independence. The next commission will be established before April 1, 2009.

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Justice Web Site: http://www.justice.gov.ab.ca

(For a copy of the Justice of the Peace Compensation Commission's final report, click on "Publications.")

David Dear
Communications
Alberta Justice and Attorney General
(780) 427 8530

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